They threw away their weapons, unwilling to fight any more. Some among them
said: "Why fight for victory against the rakshasas and kill them unnecessarily? Why
incur sin by himsa of other pranis? Let us all refuse to fight. What is it that we gain
by victory? Why should we bother to avenge the devas and suras? Who is our
boss? Why should we serve anyone? It is our wish to serve, or not to serve. Who
can force us to serve against our will? Who is Lalita? Who is Kameswara? Who is
Dhandini? Who is Chandika? Who is Mantrini? Why should we sacrifice our lives
for their sake? What do we gain thereby? Let us not fight any more. No more war
torus. No more! Effort only drives away luxury, happiness and enjoyments. Sleep,
on the other hand, gives comfort and rest and happiness. Laziness is a wonderful
and Joyful experience! Delay is enjoyable. Why worry? Why make effort? Let us
throw down all our weapons and relax and enjoy restful and lazy sleep. What can
our Queen do to us? How can she punish us if all of us join together and strike work
unitedly?"

Thus, with confused minds, the Shakti damsels threw away their weapons and
lazed in indolence with insolence.

After Visukra had thrown his powerful Jaya-rVighna-Yantra into the midst of the
Shakti-hosts, he returned to Sunyakapuri with intent to successfully invade at
midnight Lalita's stronghold - now rendered ineffective by his Yantra. He gathered
together, around him thirty akshouhinis and, at dead of night, reached the flaming
fence and blew his trumpets calling the Shakti hosts to meet him in battle. Not a
damsel stirred in reply. They lazed and behaved as though they were unconcerned.
They wre not going to fight anymore for anybody's sake. They had laid down their
weapons and with them. their jobs too. Syamala and Dhandini, seeing that they
could not rouse them to action, conferred in private thus: "What has come over our
armies now? Why are they indolent, sleepy, insoletnt and prone to insubordination?
Who is responsible for this state of affairs? They heed not our words; nor do they
worship our Queen Lalitamba. They refuse to take up arms. What could the reason
be? Thus discussing, they decided to take the matter to the notice of their Queen.

Said Syamala to Sri Devi: "Parameswari, we know not why, but our Shakti armies
are unwilling to fight the foe. They say it is himsa to kill. They have ceased to obey
our orders; nor do they worship Thee. They are lazing about and inviting sleep and
indolence. They are not skillful with their arms any more; for they have thrown them
away in disgust. They abuse us and call us all sorts of names. They say " who is
Mantrini and who is Dhandini to us?" Our armies are thus indolent and insolent;

outside, the danava chief has laid siege and is calling us to war or to surrender.
They are blowing their trumpets haughtily. P16ase tell us what we can do under the
circumstances." Lalitamba beheld the Rakshasa's Maya in her mind and decided to
trample down his pride. She turned her face to Lord Kameswara and, amorously
looking into His eyes. smiled sweetly at Kameswara and he smiled back at her with
divine intent and, to the joy of devas, from the junction of the two radiant sacred
smiles was born Maha Ganesa. His head was that of a mighty elephant; and his
body was red, surpassing the petals of Japa flower. In his ten powerful hands he
held a club, a rosary, a sugar-cane bow, a trident, a lotus, noose, an Utpala, a jewel
100